Andantino

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Credits

June 4, 1981, New York City Ballet, Tschaikovsky Festival, New York State Theater

Original Cast

Darci Kistler, Ib Andersen

Length

8 Min.

Costumes by

Ben Benson

Lighting by

Ronald Bates

Set to the lilting second movement of Tschaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Andantino is infused with a sense of sweetness and unforced drama.

Tschaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 debuted to great success at its premiere in Boston in 1875 with the pianist Hans van Bülow. Van Cliburn won the First International Tschaikovsky Competition (and the hearts of Russians) when he played the concerto in Moscow in 1958 at the height of the Cold War. Jerome Robbins choreographed Andantino to the concerto’s second movement, Andantino semplice – Prestissimo. In his exploration of partnering for two dancers — choreographed for Darci Kistler and Ib Andersen — Robbins chose to infuse the pas de deux with a natural sense of unforced romantic drama.